Loris council consents to Spectrum Southeast state franchise, sets 5% cable franchise fee

The Loris City Council unanimously approved a resolution consenting to an amendment of a state-issued certificate of franchise authority for Spectrum Southeast, LLC and advanced an ordinance setting a 5% franchise-fee rate for cable service providers.

Mayor Michael E. Suggs moved the franchise resolution ahead to allow the council to record consent before the state deadline. Attorney John C. Zilinsky explained that under the South Carolina Competitive Cable Service Act (2006) the state issues cable-service franchises and municipalities must respond before the statute’s deadline or be deemed not to consent. Zilinsky told the council the primary practical effects of consenting are that the city may charge a franchise fee of up to 5% of a franchisee’s revenues earned within the city and may request up to three Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels; the city would not be required to pay for those channels.

Council approved Resolution 04-26 consenting to the Spectrum amendment and then approved first reading of Ordinance 03-26, which establishes a 5% franchise fee rate and includes requirements for PEG channels. Both votes were unanimous.

Clerk Melinda T. Price read the resolution and ordinance by title only; Attorney Zilinsky confirmed the ordinance language covers PEG-channel provisions. The Clerk will file the ordinance with the South Carolina Secretary of State as required for future state-issued franchise certificates. The council did not specify immediate franchise-fee ordinances beyond the municipal 5% rate on file with the Secretary of State.